Community Partners
 

 

George F. Johnson Society

The George F. Johnson Society is named for the man many believe has had the greatest impact on Broome County. Born in Milford, Massachusetts, in 1857, his first local job was in 1881 in a section of a Binghamton shoe factory as the supervisor of a work crew. Nine years later he became superintendent of that company’s new plant, which was located in the community of Lestershire and has been described as the largest factory of its kind in the entire world. In 1899, Johnson became co-owner of the business, which was renamed the Endicott-Johnson Co. Under his presidency, the company grew to eight factories in Broome County, employing about 10,000.

Until he died in 1948, Johnson saw to it that Endicott-Johnson employees were treated better than most other workers of that era. He valued his employees and had the company build high quality homes for them (which the employees could buy for rates as low as $7 per week, with an interest rate of only 1 percent). The company also created parks (containing swimming pools and carousels that anyone could ride for free), medical facilities, restaurants, libraries, and recreational facilities—all designed to provide high quality goods and services to the employees for free or at a low cost. All the while Endicott-Johnson was highly profitable.

In grateful appreciation, the residents of Lestershire renamed their community Johnson City in 1916, and the employees of Endicott-Johnson built two arches over the area’s main road in the early 1920s, one at the entrance to Johnson City and the other in Endicott, stating that they were the gateways to the "Square Deal Towns."

The George F. Johnson Society recognizes the support of community leaders for health and human services funded by  United Way of Broome County. All individuals contributing $1,000 or more in a single year to United Way’s annual campaign are eligible for membership. Gifts to the George F. Johnson Society are credited to the appropriate employee group campaign and/or division. Gifts of $10,000 and above now qualify the donor for membership in the Alexis de Tocqueville Society.

Since its inception in 1987, the George F. Johnson Society has grown from the 53 members it had in its first year.  

George F. Johnson Society Members for 2007 Campaign
Gold ($5,000 to $9,999):
Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Gault 
Shirley W. Keller 
David J. Maines
William R. Maines 
Edward Rompala 

Silver ($2,500 to $4,999):
Anonymous (2)
Dick & Betsy Aswad 
David & Kim Ayers ^
Frank E. Berrish 
Bruce & Cheryl Boyea ^
Loretta & Jim Carrigg 
Mr. & Mrs. C. A. Cleveland Jr.
Jeff & Sandi Coghlan 
Kenneth L. & Beth A. Coleman
Honorable Mary Rita Connerton
Ann & Bill Davies
Thomas & Patricia Davis
Larry & Gina Denniston
Patricia A. Ewing 
Robert & Marie Gomulka ^
Jim & Jean Gow ^
Norman T. Herbert 
Nancy & Rich Hopf +
Charles & Patricia Ingraham
C. Addison & Nancy B. Keeler 
Robert L. McDevitt, K.S.G., K.C.H.S., & Mrs. Catherine H. McDevitt, L.C.H.S. 
Dale & Hank McGlynn
Eugene E. and Judith C. Peckham 
Thomas E. Rattmann
Mr. & Mrs. John F. Russell 
Lennart A. Saaf 
Ken & Sue Spink 
Fred W. Stein 
Steve & Laura Trichka ^
Jim & Joan Walsh +

Bronze ($1,000 to $2,499):
Anonymous (44)
Glenn Ackerman  
Ferris & Louise Akel 
George & Sally Akel 
Ronald & Beth Akel 
Richard & Kathleen Allman +
Peter & Catherine Altmann +

Thomas W. Bartenstein
Gary Beagell +
Diana Bean 
Bruce & Harriet Becker
Carol Belva
Jane & Bill Berical 
Susan L. & Oliver N. Blaise Jr.
Oliver N. Blaise III & Dalya Y. Alkass-Blaise
Barbara C. Blossom
Marilyn & Allan Bombard
Sean M. Bond 
Christina Boyd 
Jack & Pamela Brayton +
Nancy & Charles Brink *
Roy & Melissa Brock 
Marc A. Burford 
Joe & Diane Busch +
Jody & Al Buyck +

David J. & Mary Beth Cahill
Mark & Patricia Capobianco 
Bob & Agnes Carey 
Joan & Don Carlin 
John & JoAnn Carrigg 
Kathy & Ron Charsky
J. Roger Chatterton 
Gary & Jana Chavoustie +
Pamela L. Christina 
John A. Clark 
Judith E. Clark 
Michael Cohen & Judy West
Donald Conklin
Thomas & Cheryl Coughlin 
Mrs. Richard W. Couper
Dr. & Mrs. Edward M. Cox Sr. +
Dave Culbertson +

Jyoti & Dr. Rajesh Dave'
Lois DeFleur 
Dr. & Mrs. Christopher Demtrak
Dr. & Mrs. Bruce Denham 
Marjorie & Kamlesh Desai 
John & Eve DiMenna
Mr. & Mrs. Dean DiTommaso +
Rev. & Mrs. H. Arthur Doersam +
Millicent Drew +

Kristi Empett +
Sandy Englehart
Richard Erikson +

James Felmet 
John & Colleen Fitzsimmons
Don & Carolyn Flanagan 
Frank & Colette Floyd 
Helene J. Freed
 
Stephen & Linda Gardner
Richard & Kathleen Gilbert 
Dr. Francis & Joyce Gilroy
Karen J. Goodman 
Al & Kristi Gorick 
Peter & Elaine Gorton 
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Grambling Jr. 
Dr. Steven Grossman
Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Gudas
Emmanuel & Melissa Guizano
 
Bob & Marian Hansen 
Dr. Jonathan Harris & Ms. Gloria Block 
Bonnie Henderson +
Chris & Wendy Hill 
Eric Hills
Michael J. Hills 
Steve & Darlene Hissong 
Paul R. & Nadine K. Hoffmann 
Cornelia & John Hogan 
Thomas & Christine Hoke 
John Houseknecht +
Jane & Bob Hyland
 
Michelle M. Jeavons 
Dale & Maryann Johnson 
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas R. Johnson
Frithiof V. Johnson
Christopher M. Jones
Diane M. Julian
 
Joseph Kane 
John & Marcella Keeler
Dr. Thomas F. & Nancy Kay Kelly 
William & Lisa Kelly
Robin Kinslow-Evans & Edward Evans +
Jim Kloman +
William & Beth Knecht + 
George R. Knott Jr. 
RuthAnne Koffman +
Julianne M. Koromhaz
John S. Kresge

Jeff & Cindy Lake
John Leet +
Ronald W. & Diane M. Lesch
Virginia Lowe
William Lynn 
Al & Diana Lyons 
Christopher C. Lyons +

Tom & Geri Mac Duffie +
Joyce E. & Francis S. Majewski 
Richard Matsushima 
MaryAnne & Richard N. Matties 
Kevin J. McKeown 
Michael McNally 
Roger McVannan 
James S. Mellema & Christina B. Mellema
Christopher Mellon 
Mike & Joyce Mercincavage
Jan & Floyd Metzger 
Frank & Carol Meyer 
Charles Miller +
Judith & Kenneth Miller 
Susan & Steve Miller 
Mr. & Mrs. Wendell H. Miller 
Bill & Sandy Mitchell 
Patrick R. Molina +
Sam & Cheryl Monachino + 
Allen Moring +
Patrick Morris +
Maria & Jerry Motsavage 
Timothy C. & Kim A. Myers + 

Vince & Camille Natale
David & Mary Ellen Niefer
David Niermeyer (Niermeyer Foundation) 
 
Teresa O'Connell +
James and Terry Orband

Howell & Susan Palmer
Jay & Barbara Peak 
Elaine Petrik +
Mario Petta 
Tam & Diane Pham 
Carol L. & Barrie R. Phillips 
Sheila & Kevin Pierson
Robert Pipher 

Amarjit S. Rai
Mark & Sally Reed
William H. & Audree F. Rincker * 
Christopher Ritter & Marilyn Tallerico +
Peter & Susan Ronan
Trudy L. Rose +
Janet Rutkowski & John W. Sharpless 
Chris & Rochelle Ryan
 
Matt & Mary Ellen Salanger +
Noland & Jan Schmidt +
Lola Ford Schumann 
James & Gail Scott +
Winslow T. Shearman 
Richard & Margaret Sheehan 
Everett & Karen Shimp 
Helen J. Shulman 
Dr. & Mrs. Ehtisham U. Siddiqui 
Richard Sileo 
Ronald & Sue Simons
Dennis & Julie Slattery +
Joseph Slavik +
John G. & Judith A. Spencer
Dr. Laurence Spraggs 
Dr. John F. Spring
Chris Strahm
Dennis & Linda Sweeney 

Dr. & Mrs. James Terzian 
Jennifer & Douglas Thrall
John & Mary Trumble +
Jim & Terri Turner
Kent & Barbara W. Turner * +

Dr. & Mrs. James Vincens

Terry Walsh
Thomas & Sarah Walsh + 
Lynn & Dave Warne 
Dr. & Mrs. Michael J. Wasco 
Dr. & Mrs. James W. Wasson
John B. & Jacqueline T. Westcott 
Mrs. Cynthia H. Wetjen 
MaryAnn & Jim Wilcox

* Donated by the Community Foundation for South Central New York from Named Donor Advisory Fund 
+ New this year
^ Moved up to this level this year

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Updated: May 21, 2008